and declare that our said brother and cousin, their heirs, male or female, lawfully begotten by them, shall hold, during their lives only, the said county of Boulogne, in the form and manner specified in the treaty of Arras, and that they may reap the same advantages from it, as if it were their own proper inheritance. And we engage to make those consent to the same, who may claim any right to the said county, and give them such compensation as we shall judge proper, so that our said brother, cousin, and their heirs, shall have peaceable possession of the same. We have also promised, and by these presents do promise, our said brother and cousin, that we will cause to be frankly and freely delivered up, as far as in us lies, and we restore, from this instant, the castles, towns, castlewicks and provostships, of Peronne, Mondidier and Roye, with all their dependencies, discharged of whatever debts or mortgages may have attached to them, in the same full manner as they were given to our said uncle by our father, in consequence of the treaty of Arras, to enjoy the same in like manner as they were enjoyed before, according to that article in the said treaty; and we will procure that our very dear and well-beloved cousin the count de Nevers shall surrender to our said brother and cousin the right he lays claim to respecting these towns, castles, &c. and that he shall give possession of the same into the hands of our said brother and cousin, or to any commissioners appointed by them. In addition, we have likewise conveyed to our said brother and cousin the county of Guines, as a perpetual inheritance for them, their heirs and successors, to hold and enjoy all rights, taxes, and other emoluments within the same, as and in like manner with the preceding. In respect to any claim on this county made by the lord de Croy, or others who may pretend to such, we engage to satisfy the said lord de Croy and the others, on this head, and to assure to our said brother and cousin the possession of the said county, free from all let or hindrance on the part of the lord de Croy and all others.

"All the above articles we have promised, and do now promise, punctually to perform, on our royal word," &c.

This ordinance was published at Paris, on the 5th of October, in the year 1465, under the great seal of France, and registered by the parliament on the 11th of the same month.

At the end of this ordinance, the king commands all his judges and other officers to see that these engagements and conveyances are carried into full and speedy effect,—and at the beginning of it were stated the causes and reasons which had moved the king to make such concessions to the count de Charolois.

First, to recompense him for the very great expenses he had been at to raise so great an army to join his brother, the duke of Berry, for the welfare of the kingdom. Secondly, to appease the discords and divisions then existing between the king and the princes of his realm, in which the count de Charolois had greatly exerted himself. Thirdly, because, in consequence of these divisions, the Liegeois had raised a considerable force, and had invaded the dominions of the duke of Burgundy, and had done great mischiefs. Fourthly, respecting the repurchase of the towns and lands on the Somme, that had been mortgaged to the duke of Burgundy, who considered himself entitled to the enjoyment of this country, notwithstanding the repurchase, and that the king had taken immediate possession of the same. And, lastly, to recompense the count de Charolois for the pension of thirty-six thousand francs, which the king had given him and afterward taken from him.

From all these considerations, the king had made such great concessions to the count de Charolois by the treaty of Conflans; and, in addition, at the request of the said count, the king had increased the jurisdictions of the provostships of Vimeu, of Beauvoisis, and of Fouilloy*, to avoid any disputes that might arise between the king's officers and those of the count, as these provostships are included within the bailiwick of Amiens, for the count and his heirs to enjoy on similar terms with those before specified, by letters under the great seal, dated Paris, the 14th day of the same month of October, and enregistered by the parliament on the 16th.

Thus were the quarrels between the king and the princes appeased t.

* Fouilloy, a village in Picardy, near Corbie. When Louis XI. was asked how he could make such concessions, and sign a treaty so prejudicial to the interest

of the crown, he replied, "that it was in consideration of the youth of my brother of Berry, of the prudence of my fair cousin of Calabria, of the sense of my brother-in-law

CHAPTER CXXXIV. - THE KING IS PRESENT AT A REVIEW OF THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS ARMY. THE COUNT TAKES LEAVE OF THE KING, AND MARCHES HIS ARMY AGAINST THE LIEGEOIS.-THE DUKE OF BERRY DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING FOR THE DUCHY OF NORMANDY.

WHEN this treaty was concluded betweeen the king and the princes of France, they one day assembled together in the castle of Vincennes, wherein the lord de Saveuses was, for that day, lodged by orders from the count de Charolois, when Charles, the newly-created duke of Normandy, did homage to the king for that duchy; after which the other princes did homage for what each had individually obtained from him in lands or honours,-—after which they took their leave of the king, and of each other, to return to their homes.

. When these ceremonies were over, the count de Charolois made a review of his men-atarms and other troops, as the king wished to see them, and for this purpose they were drawn up between Conflans* and Paris. The king, on seeing them, was astonished, and could not refrain from saying, that he did not imagine the count de Charolois had been so powerful, or had such handsome and well-appointed men-at-arms. The review being over, the count took leave of the king and the other princes, and departed from Conflans, the last day of October, with his whole army; but the king would accompany him, in spite of his entreaties to return, as far as Villiers-le-belt. The king had very few attendants; but what was more, they remained together in this village three or four days, making good cheer, and discoursing secretly on their private affairs. The king showed the utmost possible affection for the count, and it was with difficulty that he parted from him.

At length the king returned, and the count proceeded to Senlis, wherein he was most honourably received, and thence to Compiègne and Noyon, where, and in all the other towns of France he passed through, the same honours were shown him,-for such had been the king's orders, and he was to be admitted with whatever company he pleased. He did enter with such a large body that he was superior to any of their garrisons; but his men paid regularly for everything they wanted, without doing the smallest damage,-for such were the count's commands, on pain of death to all who should act to the contrary.

While the count de Charolois was at Conflans, he received several letters from the duke of Burgundy, to send him five or six thousand combatants to join those whom he was collecting to march against the Liegeois; for that his intention was to command them in person, and offer the Liegeois battle, which made the count the more anxious to leave France, to assist his father and revenge himself on those of Dinant, who had insulted him so grossly, as has been before-mentioned. In consequence of the treaty of Conflans, several of the lords of his army had left him and disbanded their men; but he issued his summons throughout the dominions of his father the duke, for those who had been with him in France, and all others accustomed to bear arms, to join him at Mezieres, on the Meuset, the 15th day of November next, in arms, and as well-mounted as possible, under pain of corporal punishment and confiscation of effects, whither the count marched with the remainder of those who had accompanied him to France. On the day appointed, the gens-d'armes of the states of the duke of Burgundy appeared round Mezieres; but several came thither much against their wills, for they had been badly paid for their expedition to France: of the twenty-two weeks they had there served, they were only paid for seventeen; but they dared not complain, so much was the count redoubted and feared.

There was now in and about Mezieres a larger and better appointed army than had ever been in France; for the large towns under the dependence of the duke sent thither archers and cross-bowmen, and there repaired thither several knights and esquires of those

of Bourbon, of the malice of the count d'Armagnac, of the great pride of my fair cousin of Brittany, and of the invincible army of my fair brother of Charolois."-Proofs to Comines, No. 65.

The chamber of accounts protested against this treaty of Conflans. There are many very curious papers respecting the history of this period in the proofs to the Mémoires deComines.

* Conflans, is on the Seine, six leagues from Paris.

+ Villiers-le-bel. Q. Villiers-le-basele? in the Isle of France, near Paris.

Mezieres, on the Meuse,-a strong city in Champagne, five leagues from Charleville.

countries that had been redeemed from the crown of France, and other warriors who had not been of the late expedition, and even some who had been in the late quarrels of the king's party against the count de Charolois.

CHAPTER CXXXV.-THE ENTRY OF THE DUKE OF BERRY INTO ROUEN. THE KING OF FRANCE GOES INTO NORMANDY AND RETAKES POSSESSION OF THAT DUCHY. HE CAUSES SOME OF THE LORDS OF THAT COUNTRY, WHO HAD SUPPORTED HIS BROTHER, TO BE EXECUTED AND DROWNED.

WHEN the confederated princes had separated at Conflans, Charles the new duke of Normandy, accompanied by the duke of Brittany, the count de Dunois, and other lords, set out to visit his duchy of Normandy, and went first to Mont St. Catherine, above Rouen; for the whole of the country, as has been said, had submitted to his obedience. He was advised to make his public entry into Rouen on the feast of St. Catherine,—and the inhabitants had made great preparations for his reception. The duke of Brittany, however, for some private reasons, had the entry deferred, which much displeased the inhabitants of that town; and finding that the duke had not given any orders for so doing, they assembled in arms, and went to their new duke in a numerous body, to request that he would instantly make his entry into their town. The count de Harcourt*, then his principal adviser and favourite, urged him to comply with their request without farther delay; which he assented to, whether the duke of Brittany would or not, and followed the townsmen into Rouen, where he was grandly feasted, to the great vexation of the duke of Brittany, who could not at that time prevent it, for he had not then his men-at-arms with him, and was forced to dissemble. He was so much enraged that he departed for Brittany with those he had with him; and, on going away, they carried off the bedding and sheets of the good people where they had been lodged, as if they had been in an enemy's country. They seized also some of the towns in Normandy, wherein the duke left a party of his men to guard them,—and among others, he took possession of the town and castle of Caen, where he placed a larger force to guard and defend the castle.

On these things coming to the king's knowledge, he hastily assembled as many men as he could, and marched first to Caen, which was surrendered to him by the duke of Brittany; and shortly after all the other towns in Normandy surrendered to the king, excepting Rouen, Louviers, Pont de l'Arche, and some castles. The new duke resided at Rouen, where those who had received him as their lord had promised to stand by him until death; but the duke perceived clearly that they would not long keep their promises; and for that reason he quitted the town of Rouen, and sought an asylum with the duke of Brittany, who received him with kindness. Soon after the departure of the duke, those of Rouen surrendered to the king,—and their example was followed by Pont de l'Arche and Louviers; so that the whole of the duchy of Normandy was repossessed by the king, notwithstanding the promises he had made to his brother in the treaty of Conflans.

:

The king recalled to his person the duke of Bourbon, and attended more to his opinion than to that of any other prince. As soon as he found himself master of Normandy, he began to persecute such as had been of the party of his brother, and had supported him among others was the lord d'Esternay, whom he caused to be arrested and drowned. This lord had been, during the late reign, general of Normandy, and was exceedingly beloved for his wisdom and moderation,—and he had not his equal in the whole country for devotion. Many other lords the king caused to be executed or drowned, so that several quitted their country, abandoning their houses and estates for fear of his tyranny, and the king was greatly blamed for these measures by all who heard of them.

* John V. de Rieux, son of Francis, and grandson of John III. lord of Rieux, who acquired the county of Harcourt by marriage with Joan, daughter and heir of John VII. last count de Harcourt of the original line. He was made mareschal of Bretagne by Francis II., and advanced to the dignity of a mareschal of France in 1504. But Anthony count de Vaudemont laid claim also to the county

of Harcourt in right of his wife Mary, another daughter of John VII., who brought the county of Aumale into his house; and John of Lorraine, his second son, bore the title of Count de Harcourt. From a subsequent passage it seems probable that it is this nobleman, and not the lord of Rieux, who is here mentioned.

CHAPTER CXXXVI.-THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS ENTERS THE COUNTRY OF LIEGE WITH HIS ARMY. THE LIEGEOIS DEMAND AND OBTAIN A TRUCE,—BUT, ALTHOUGH A PEACE IS MADE, IT DOES NOT LAST LONG.

THE Liegeois, hearing of the peace concluded between king Louis and the count de Charolois, imagined that they were included in the treaty; but when they learned the contrary, and that the count was marching an immense army against them, they sent a grand embassy to the duke of Burgundy at Brussels, offering to make great reparations for what they had done. They supplicated, in all humility, for peace with him and the count de Charolois, and were so urgent that they obtained from the good duke a truce for fifteen days.

At this moment, the count de Charolois was at St. Tron,* a large town belonging to Liege, which surrendered to him as soon as he came before it. On receiving information of this truce, he caused proclamation to be made throughout his army, that no one should do any damage to the territories of Liege, on pain of death, notwithstanding that his men had not received their pay: they were, therefore, obliged to forage the country of the duke of Burgundy that lay nearest at hand, and it suffered very much from it. They even spread as far as Lorraine and other distant countries, to seek provisions,-for so large an army could not otherwise have existed without money. On the expiration of the fifteen days, the truce was prolonged for eight more, then for another eight days, and at last to the 12th day of January which caused the adjoining country to be sorely pillaged and devoured, for it was daily overrun for so long a space of time. The count de Charolois, perceiving that the Liegeois were only seeking delays, and did not perform what they had promised, collected his army, and entered the territory of Liege, and wrote to the duke his father to send him as many reinforcements as he could, for that he now intended to combat the Liegeois.

The duke instantly sent back to him the lord de Saveuses with all his men, and wrote him word, that he would shortly join him in person, and that he desired he would not give battle until he should arrive. As the duke was preparing to set out for the army, notwithstanding the severe illness from which he had scarcely recovered, his son wrote him word that the Liegeois had come to him with a treaty, such as he approved of, sealed with their city-scal, that they implored his mercy, and begged he would be satisfied with them,— that he had accepted the treaty, provided it were his good pleasure to ratify it. The duke, on receiving this news, remained quiet at Brussels.

On the 20th day of January, the Liegeois, knowing that the count de Charolois had entered their country with his army, and that his van, under the command of the count de St. Pol, was far advanced, sent from four-score to a hundred of the principal persons of the country to wait on the count de Charolois, well mounted and well armed for fear of several who had been banished their city, and other evil-disposed persons, who only wished for war, and hindered the completion of a peace. They met the count between St. Tron and Tongrest, two good towns belonging to the Liegeois, and presented to him the treaty such as had been agreed to by the city of Liege, and sealed with their seal: the deputation offered, at the same time, to answer with their lives for the consent of the other towns in this treaty. The terms of this treaty were precisely what the duke of Burgundy and his son had insisted upon, and the deputies, on their knees, besought the count's mercy and pardon, promising that henceforward the inhabitants of the whole country would be his faithful servants and good neighbours.

The count, having examined the treaty, accepted it on consideration of the great sums they were to pay by way of recompensing the damages done, and forgave them. for damages was six hundred thousand florins of the Rhine, which they were to pay the duke in the course of six years; and the duke of Brabant and all future dukes of Brabant were to be their mainbrugs, or governors of the whole country of Liege, with a yearly salary of two thousand florins of the Rhine. The Liegeois were not in future to undertake any measures Tongres,-in the bishopric of Liege, on the lower

* St. Tron,- on the lower Meuse, fourteen miles northwest from Liege, the capital of the country of Hasbain.

Meuse.

of weight, without having first obtained the consent of their mainbrug. Many other articles were inserted in the treaty, which I omit for the sake of brevity; but, notwithstanding, they soon after broke this treaty, without keeping any one article of it.

The

The count de Charolois having acceded to the requests of the deputies, peace was proclaimed throughout his army,-and the whole was ordered to appear before him, on the morrow, near to Tongres. This was done that the deputation might see his army in battlearray, to inspire them with fear of his power, and thereby check any future rebellion. army, when drawn up on the following day, delighted and astonished the ambassadors and those who had come from St. Tron, Tongres, and other towns to see it, for they never could have imagined that the count would have been able to raise such a force at once. In truth, according to common report, this army consisted of upwards of twenty-eight thousand horse, not including the infantry, which was very numerous, although many had returned home with leave, and without leave, in default of being regularly paid.

When the army was thus drawn up, the count rode along the line, thanking most courteously all the captains and men-at-arms, begging they would hold him excused for having so badly paid them, for that he could not now have avoided it,-but he would make them full amends at another time by more regular payments, so that every one should be satisfied. Addressing himself to the poorer cavaliers, he asked if any of them had been banished the countries of the duke his father, and desired such to come to him at Brussels, when he would make representations of their case to his father, and they should be allowed to return. Saying this, he took his leave of them, and went from St. Tron to Hasbain, and the troops were dismissed to their several homes.

CHAPTER CXXXVII.-AFTER THE TREATY CONCLUDED AT SAINT TRON, THE INHABITANTS ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE MEN OF THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, BUT ARE OVERPOWERED. -THE COUNT RETURNS TO HIS FATHER AT BRUSSELS.-THE KING OF FRANCE RAISES A LARGE ARMY, IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH, THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS PUTS HIMSELF ON HIS GUARD.

ONE Sunday after peace had been made with the Liegeois, and while the count de Charolois was in St. Tron, detachments of his army were passing through that town on their road homewards; when the inhabitants, thinking the whole were passed, sought a quarrel with a body of the men-at-arms attached to the bastard of Burgundy, and killed two of them. Having done this, they closed the gate by which these detachments entered from Tongres, and guarded the others. This conduct seemed as if they intended to put to death all of those who were in the town; but the gens-d'armes forced the gate, and marched straight to the market-place, where they formed themselves in order, to resist the mob of the town, who had there assembled with a great noise. They soon drove this mob before them, who fled for safety; not, however, without having had nineteen or twenty of their companions killed. Had not the count been timely informed of what was passing, and given proper orders for checking his men, they would probably have destroyed all the inhabitants, and plundered the town; for they were then beginning to break down doors and windows, and enter the houses: however, they lodged themselves wherever they pleased, and took whatever provisions they found within them. Some of the townsmen, who had begun this riot, had retreated into a kind of fortified house, wherein they were besieged, and at length taken, when the riot ceased. This happened on the 22nd day of January, in the year 1465.

The count de Charolois, on leaving St. Tron, went straight to Brussels, where he was received by the duke his father with as much joy as ever father received a son. When they had remained some days together, the count set out on a pilgrimage to Boulogne, which he had vowed to perform on foot; and on his return to Brussels, he went to Ghent, Bruges, and Saint Omer, and in all of these towns he was received with the greatest honours. While he was at St. Omer, the count de Nevers came to him, and asked his pardon for whatever he might have done to offend him, which was fully granted; and they remained together